Vault Steak House owners expand new ventures in Madison

Maribeth Joeright/MJoeright@News-Herald.comNick and Giovanna Kustala have opened Vault Steak House in a historic Madison Village building that was once a bank and then a tearoom. The vault still exists and the owners decorated the space with photos of infamous bank robbers and John D. Rockefeller, far right, who once kept money there. Steaks, which are presented to diners on a cutting board, are shown, from back left to right, New York strip, Delmonico, Porterhouse and in front, a filet mignon.

The couple who contributed to downtown Willoughby's revitalization and dining scene is now investing in downtown Madison and its surrounding community.

Nicholas Kustala met his wife, Giovanna, about 15 years ago when he was head chef of Gavi's Restaurant at 38257 Glenn Ave. in Willoughby. Nicholas studied culinary arts at Johnson and Wales University and Giovanna was an expert in wine and food pairing.

Together, they opened Lure Bistro in 2000, a gourmet sushi bar at 38040 Third St. In 2008, they sold it to a fellow chef and moved it to Austinburg Township in Ashtabula County to start new ventures in areas like Madison with more affordable leases and property values.

The couple bought a two-story 19th century red brick building overlooking Madison Square and opened the Vault Steak House in 2012.

Around that same time the couple launched Nicholas Anthony Restaurant Group, a company that oversees the steakhouse at 63 W. Main St. and Coffee Creek Estate, a gourmet restaurant the couple started in Austinburg soon after they moved.

This year, the company will launch three more restaurants in Madison.

The Black Walnut Tavern will be the first to open in early May out of the Madison Country Club on 6131 Chapel Road.

"There's memberships for the golf course and dining, but you can also visit us by making a dinner reservation," Nicholas said.

The tavern will be a contemporary American-style restaurant open for lunch and dinner. A second restaurant at the country club is slated to open in September, Nicholas said.

"It doesn't have a title yet, but it'll be a fine-dining restaurant that will do dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, and will feature table-side service," he said.

Earlier this year, the Kustalas' company opened Allure, a catering business that manages Madison Country Club's food and beverage service.

Rollin Cooke, a Munson Township business owner, bought the country club in January and partnered with the Kustalas to take over the food side, Nicholas said.

"His passion kind of lies with the golf side," he said.

In early June, the company is slated to open a sushi bar with a familiar flare at 30 West Main Street in downtown Madison.

"The folks from Willoughby and those who remember us from (Lure Bistro) will definitely feel a Lure-esque vibe to it," Nick said. The restaurant and bar will even take on the name "Bar Lure."

"We completely re-did the building," Giovanna said. "It was an old photography studio, so it was like a blank canvass."

Giovanna and Nicholas said downtown Madison has seen a steady upswing of activity since 2009 when Roy Blalock opened Cornerstone Brewery at 70 W. Main St.

"We have the historic buildings," Nicholas said.

"(Downtown Madison) has a nice stretch and there's great traffic through the area."